January 20, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s Under-19 women’s cricket team defeated New Zealand by two runs at the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia.
The Junior Female Yellow Greens accomplished this feat at the Sarawak Cricket Ground, marking their first victory against a non-African nation in a major ICC tournament.
The match, which began with a rain delay, was shortened to 13 overs per side.
New Zealand decided to field first, allowing Nigeria to set the target. Under the leadership of captain Lucky Piety, who recorded Nigeria’s first six in a Women’s World Cup, the team posted 65 runs while losing six wickets in their allotted overs.
The second innings witnessed a measured approach from Sarah Bakhita’s squad, who maintained their composure throughout the chase.
Their strategic bowling and fielding efforts limited the fourth-ranked New Zealand team to 63 runs, with six wickets falling during their innings.
This result represents a significant milestone for Nigerian cricket, particularly in women’s youth development.
The victory against a traditional cricket powerhouse is evidence of the growing strength of African cricket on the international stage, especially in the development of young talent.
The triumph arrives at a crucial moment for women’s cricket in Africa, where nations are expanding their cricket programmes and creating opportunities for young players.
This success story adds to the increasing recognition of African cricket teams in global competitions.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
